When the wind is in the east’Tis neither good for man nor beast.
When the wind is in the east’Tis neither good for man nor beast.
When the wind is in the east’Tis neither good for man nor beast.
When the wind is in the east
’Tis neither good for man nor beast.
Sometimes also the sky in this region will be covered with a uniform stratus cloud, which is not of any great thickness, and when breaks occur, the sun is seen to be shining brightly above.
On the northeast side of the anticyclone in summer, light, cumulusclouds frequently form in the morning, gradually increase till after the maximum temperature has passed, and then decrease and disappear towards evening.
If woollen fleeces spread the heavenly way,Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day.
If woollen fleeces spread the heavenly way,Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day.
If woollen fleeces spread the heavenly way,Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day.
If woollen fleeces spread the heavenly way,
Be sure no rain disturbs the summer day.
When the cumulus clouds are smaller at sunset than they were at noon, expect fair weather.
Clouds small and round like a dapple gray with a north wind, fair weather for two or three days.
The cirrus cloud is usually seen on the outskirts of an anticyclone, if in the front it gradually disappears, but if in the rear it is a sign that there will be a change in the weather, hence:
If cirrus clouds dissolve and appear to vanish, it is an indication of fine weather.
If cirrus clouds form in fine weather with a falling barometer, it is almost sure to rain.
When, after a clear frost, long streaks of cirrus are seen with their ends bending towards each other as they recede from the zenith, and when they point to the northeast, a thaw and a southwest wind may be expected.
Both these latter prognostics refer to a depression coming in and “breaking up the weather” and the anticyclone.
We have endeavored in this paper to deal with such prognostics as can be readily classified, but besides these there are many more, what may be termed unclassified prognostics. Our object has been to show the relation between certain prognostics and certain forms of isobars, and by this means to assign them their proper value. It cannot be doubted that if careful attention were given to the observation of the aspect of the sky, the different forms of cloud and local signs, these would prove, even in conjunction with a single barometer reading, of great assistance in predicting the weather. Of course those persons who live in the neighborhood of large towns labor under a great disadvantage, as the sky has nearly always a dirty appearance, and is frequently obscured by smoke. For this reason London is about the worst place to reside in for studying the weather.
We have only been able to give the rudiments of the new method of considering prognostics, for the method is capable of great extension, and we hope that we may succeed in interesting some of the Fellows sufficiently to induce them to observe prognostics in conjunction with the daily weather charts.
In conclusion, we would venture to express our opinion that the observation of local signs of weather ought to form a most important element in all arrangements for telegraphic reporting for the purpose of forecasts, and that the duty should be impressed upon the observers of reporting at once important changes in the local and general signs of the weather. Great attention should also be paid to the observation of the forms and motion of clouds, and as considerable lack of knowledge prevails, even on the part of good observers, regarding the different forms and modifications of clouds, we are glad to see that the meteorological office has already commenced systematic observations of cirrus clouds. Telegraphic observers should be specially instructed in cloud observations and prognostics by some one thoroughly well versed in the subject, so that there may be strict uniformity among all the observers, but we admit that the proposal presents serious difficulties in the way of realization.
Theoretically, when the isobars are well defined we ought to be able to write down the prognostics which might be visible, but practically we cannot do so. Besides, there are sometimes cases of isobars which have no well-defined shape, but with which thunder-storms or heavy showers often occur. These, as is well known, do not affect the barometer, but are abundantly forewarned by the commonest prognostics, and as the rainfall is usually heavy in them the failure of the forecast which omits to notice them is very conspicuous.
The scope of this paper precludes us from entering into the complicated question of the non-cyclonic rainfalls in this country. It will be enough to state that the prognostics which precede them are rather those associated with broken weather, such as bright sunrises or heavy clouds banking up without the barometer falling, than the muggy, dirty weather of a cyclone front. The warning they give is also much shorter, rarely more than three or four hours, if so long.
The result of this paper may be summarized as follows:
The authors explain over one hundred prognostics by showing that they make their appearance in definite positions relative to the areas of high and low atmospheric pressure shown in synoptic charts. The method adopted not only explains many that have not hitherto been accounted for, but enables the failure as well as the success of any prognostic to be traced by following the history of the weather of the day on a synoptic chart. The forms discussed are cyclones, anticyclones, wedge-shaped and straight isobars. The details of weather in the last two are now described for the first time. They also point out that prognostics will never be superseded for use at sea and other solitary situations, and that prognostics can be usefully combined with charts in synoptic forecasting, especially in certain classes of showers and thunder-storms which do not affect the readings of the barometer.[1]
Dr. Tripe said that some of the Fellows might think the paper hardly suitable for reading at a meeting or printing in the journal of a scientific society, but many of them took an interest in such papers, because they were comparatively simple. In reference to the table of solar and lunar halos in connection with rainfall, it appeared that rain was pretty sure to fall within three days after the occurrence of a lunar halo, and to the extent of 80 per cent., as regards solar halos, on the first or second day.[2]He considered visibility was a good prognostic, and afforded a more certain indication of the speedy occurrence of rain than even mare’s tails. What caused visibility was unknown to him. The prediction of rain from damp walls depended chiefly onthe previous weather; a sudden change from cold to warm would have the effect of making walls condense the moisture contained in the air without approaching rain. The falling of soot down a chimney was, he thought, hardly a good prognostic; it was caused to a great extent by the direction and force of the wind, and also the angle at which the wind struck the chimney-pot. He considered the paper a good one, and a step in the right direction.
1. The prognostics quoted in the paper have been mostly taken from the following works:“Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland.” By Arthur Mitchell, M. D., Edinburgh, New Philosophical Journal. “Weather Lore.” By Richard Inwards, F. M. S., London, 1869. “A Handbook of Weather Lore.” By Rev. C. Swainson, M. A., Edinburgh, 1873.
1. The prognostics quoted in the paper have been mostly taken from the following works:
“Popular Weather Prognostics of Scotland.” By Arthur Mitchell, M. D., Edinburgh, New Philosophical Journal. “Weather Lore.” By Richard Inwards, F. M. S., London, 1869. “A Handbook of Weather Lore.” By Rev. C. Swainson, M. A., Edinburgh, 1873.
2. The calculation on which his remark on halos was founded is as follows:Rain occurred in connection with—Solar halos.Lunar halos.Direction of windS.SW.W.S.SW.W.Number of observations22285981121Rain within forty-eight hoursper cent797881509176Rain on third daydo9374090
2. The calculation on which his remark on halos was founded is as follows:
Rain occurred in connection with—
Dr. Marces said, with regard to visibility being a sign of rain, he had himself observed on the borders of the Lake of Geneva, that if the mountains on the opposite side of the lake could be seen very distinctly on a cloudy day, rain was likely to fall within a short period. On such occasions the coast appeared much nearer than usual. The late Professor de la Rive, of Geneva, ascribed this phenomenon to the atmospheric dust being hygrometric and becoming transparent in damp weather from the moisture it absorbed.
Mr. Stanley remarked that solar and lunar halos depended upon the moisture in the air, and that a sign of rain could be better assured by reference to the hygrometers. He thought that fine weather in front of a cyclone was due to increase of pressure, and therefore of temperature, caused by the onward march of the cyclone. This increase of temperature was known to render sound more audible, and by making the air clearer distant objects became more visible. It was known that condensed vapors disappeared under a slight increase of pressure, just as, conversely, under the ordinary air-pump, vapors appeared on a diminution of pressure. He considered that the fall of rain in the centre of a cyclone was caused by the increase of pressure due to the tangential action of the air in the cyclone. The straight isobars described in the paper, were, he thought, in segments of a very large cyclone, which was general in all large displacements of air.
Captain Toynbee thought that the great clearness of the air experienced when isobars took the wedge-shaped form, was due to the fact that such isobars represented a ridge of high barometrical pressure, which lay between two cyclonic systems, and that the high pressure of the ridge was maintained by air which had previously risen in front of the advancing cyclonic system, when it had lost most of its moisture, and now came down as a dry, pure, clear, northwesterly wind. Hence the clearness of the air was, where wedge-shaped isobars were being experienced, a sign of rain, because it indicated the fact that a cyclonic system would soon advance over the same position. This explanation was based upon the Rev. W. Clement Ley’s theory of the motion of air in cyclonic systems.
Mr. Scott thought that it might have been desirable to give the authorities or sources from which some of the principal sayings had been derived, in order to show which were general and which were of more local import. Reference had also been made to the prevalence of bad smells with a falling barometer, and to the fact that rheumatic affections and neuralgia were felt especially at such a time; but no attempt had been made to explain the connection of those phenomena. It was a well-known fact that a sudden reduction of pressure, such as that experienced by divers when they returned to the surface of the water, produced neuralgic affections. The authors had described straight line isobars and their accompanying prognostics, but only for west winds, for pressure lowest in the north. He should be glad to see the list of prognostics extended so as to include those for straight isobars with east winds when the pressure was lowest in the south. With regard to refraction being a prognostic of rain, in some cases it was a prognosticof easterly winds, and was recognized as such in the west of Cornwall. In the past summer he had himself verified this latter statement on several occasions at Scilly and the Land’s End. The authors, he thought, spoke a little too strongly when they said the barometer gave no sign of thunder-storms. The type of isobar which accompanied these was well known; it exhibited small undulations or incipient bights representing imperfectly formed secondary depressions. At the same time he must say that no one yet, in Europe at least, had been able to forecast correctly the amount of rain for a given day in a given place. The probability of some rain could be recognized, but no attempt could be made to estimate its amount. This was apparently owing to ignorance of the conditions of the upper atmosphere.
Mr. Dyason expressed an opinion that the formulaters of weather prognostics in the past must have been color-blind, an affliction from which he was not sure that the authors of the paper were exempt. “Where are the scarlet, orange, green or gold harmonious, and the general glow?” He had endeavored in a series of sketches of skies and clouds to portray the colors as they presented themselves to his mind. In relation to visibility he referred to the Lakes of Geneva and Lucerne, quoting the lines used in the locality of Mont P
Si Pilate a un chapeau, le temps se mettra au beau;A-t-il un collier, on peut la montée risquer;Mais s’il porte son épée, il y aura une ondée.
Si Pilate a un chapeau, le temps se mettra au beau;A-t-il un collier, on peut la montée risquer;Mais s’il porte son épée, il y aura une ondée.
Si Pilate a un chapeau, le temps se mettra au beau;A-t-il un collier, on peut la montée risquer;Mais s’il porte son épée, il y aura une ondée.
Si Pilate a un chapeau, le temps se mettra au beau;
A-t-il un collier, on peut la montée risquer;
Mais s’il porte son épée, il y aura une ondée.
Mr. Dyason exhibited a sketch of the Matterhorn taken south of Zermatt during intense visibility. He did not admit “that London was a bad place for skies;” those he now exhibited were sketched in a northwestern suburb of the metropolis.
Professor Archibald considered that some of the prognostics mentioned in the paper required more explanation. For instance, it was stated that candles burned with an unsteady light in damp weather, but no reason was given why they should do so. One very good prognostic in use in Scotland appeared to have been omitted, namely: “The northwest wind is a gentleman, and goes to bed.” He would also like to know why fires burned with a blue flame in frosty weather. He considered that visibility was often a local phenomenon connected with temperature. He had noticed intense visibility and a fog in juxtaposition on that very day, when travelling from Tunbridge Wells to London.
Mr. Symons pointed out that although it might be useful to trace the origin of some of the weather proverbs, it would be extremely difficult and perhaps impossible, as some of them were ancient. With regard to the connection between lunar halos and rainfall, he thought that it would be curious, considering the large number of wet days in this country, rain falling on an average every other day, if some of them did not happen to follow lunar halos. Respecting doors and windows sticking in damp weather, this was rather the result of existing damp than a forecast of more damp to come; for if existing damp foretold coming damp it was not easy to see how dry weather could ever occur. With regard to visibility, he was glad the authors had referred to Mr. Cruickshank’s observations at Aberdeen, extending over twenty-one years, and Mr. Symons thought that much might be learned from a thorough discussion of similar observations.
Mr. Wilson directed attention to Professor Tyndall’s theory, that audibility was due to the homogeneity of the atmosphere.
Mr. C. Harding thought that the paper would be useful to an isolated observer, whose forecast was dependent upon his own observation. Itappeared to him that in classifying the prognostics, the authors of the paper had rather begged the question—given a certain occurrence which was admittedly a prognostic of bad weather; this seems to have been consequently classed as belonging to the front half of a cyclonic disturbance. He suggested that with each occurrence of the prognostic in question it would be better to note the existing conditions of atmospheric distribution, and, finally, to classify by actual observation. He stated that the form of isobars described by the authors as wedge-shaped had been referred to many years ago in various publications, by Captain Toynbee, as a “ridge” of pressure. Some distinction should have been made between the weather of anticyclone in summer and in winter, as it differed materially. Audibility had been referred to as a sign of bad weather; he might say that it was notorious in ballooning that for a given distance sounds could be heard more distinctly than on the earth, and in a recent ascent he had noticed that the shrill voices of children were much more audible than the voices of grown persons.
Mr. Abercromby, replying, said that Doctor Tripe’s analysis of halos was interesting, but that if rain did not fall within twenty-four hours after a halo, any rain after that would not be due to the cyclone which produced the halo, but to a new one. Damp walls were certainly due to excess of vapor, not to rapid changes of temperature. Soot was doubtless blown down by wind, but when used as a prognostic it rather referred to soot falling out of doors, and was to be attributed to excessive damp. Halos were unquestionably due to the presence of a thin film of ice-formed cloud, and not merely to the amount of moisture in the air. This ice film was only formed in front of cyclones or thunder-storms, and for that reason was a sign of rain. With regard to visibility alluded to by several speakers, he could not admit that it was due to excessive moisture, for the hygrometer showed that it was not so. He agreed with Captain Toynbee, so far as believing that there was a descending current of dry, clear air with a northwest wind on the front side of a “wedge,” but he doubted if that was the whole explanation. In the centre of anticyclones there was also a descending current of dry air, but no “visibility.” The diagram of straight isobars was given for westerly winds, as that type was by far the commonest. Like every other shape of isobars, the details varied with the type of weather in which they occurred. In an elementary paper it was considered inexpedient to go into so much detail. In the case mentioned by Mr. Scott, isobars trending east and west, but sloping towards the south, the same broad features as given in the diagram would be reproduced, but with a harder sky and an east or northeast wind. The prognostics would, however, be much more likely to fail, for cyclones in the northerly or easterly types, to which such isobars would belong, did not follow with the same regularity as in the westerly type. The refraction, which was a prognostic of east winds on the southwest of an anticyclone, was very different from the refraction on the northwest edge of a cyclone, which portended a fresh storm. The chief difference was the haziness of the horizon in the former case as compared with its visibility in the latter. The latter kind was hardly known on the south coast of England. He strongly suspected that the condition common to both kinds was a relatively cool air over a comparatively warm sea. The type of isobar which exhibited incipient “bights” or imperfect secondaries, was doubtless that most frequently associated with thunder-storms, but the kind of thunder-storms alluded to in the paper as showing no trace on the isobars undoubtedly occurred. Any reference to cloud or sky colors was intentionally omitted in this paper, as also to prognostics relating to diurnal winds. Candles burnedbadly before rain, probably owing to a stagnant, damp air. Blue flame was owing to the formation of carbonic oxide when a fire burned very red on a frosty night. Doors and windows sticking in damp weather indicated rain because damp preceded the rain area of a cyclone.
The idea suggested by Mr. C. Harding, that because certain prognostics were known to be associated with bad weather, therefore they were classed as belonging to the front of a cyclone, was entirely erroneous, and exactly opposite to what had been done. The method Mr. Abercromby had adopted for the last twelve years had been, when he observed a good example of any prognostic, to make a note and put it by with the nearest synoptic chart for the day, or often with both the preceding and succeeding charts. When a sufficient number had been collected, the charts were examined, and the necessary deductions drawn from them. Thus the charts were classified according to the prognostics associated with them. The results of all these researches had been embodied in the paper, and the important fact deduced was that every portion of every shape of isobars had a characteristic weather and appearance. The general fact of a “wedge” being associated with fine weather had been noticed many years ago by Captain Toynbee, but the details of weather in different portions, and their relations to prognostics, had a considerable amount of novelty.
Mr. Marriott said that it would be impossible to give the authorities or sources from which all the sayings in the paper had been derived, but the foot-note on page23contained a list of the works from which the quotations had been made. The authors on the present occasion had only dealt with certain classified prognostics; and this would explain why many others had not been noticed. They hoped, however, to deal with these in a future paper.
POPULAR WEATHER PROVERBS AND PROGNOSTICS.
Ass.
An old adage says:
When the ass begins to bray,Be sure we shall have rain that day.
When the ass begins to bray,Be sure we shall have rain that day.
When the ass begins to bray,Be sure we shall have rain that day.
When the ass begins to bray,
Be sure we shall have rain that day.
Beaver.
In early and long winters, the beaver cuts his winter supply of wood and prepares his house one month earlier than in mild, late winters.
Bears.
When bears lay up food in the fall, it indicates a cold winter.
If the tracks of bear are seen after the first fall of snow, an open, mild winter may be expected.
Bears and coons are always restless before rain.
The bear comes out on the 2d of February, and if he sees his shadow, he returns for six weeks.
Expect rain when dogs eat grass.
Buck’s Horn.
If dry be the buck’s hornOn Holyroad morn,’Tis worth a vest of gold;But if wet it be seenEre Holyroad e’en,Bad harvest is foretold.
If dry be the buck’s hornOn Holyroad morn,’Tis worth a vest of gold;But if wet it be seenEre Holyroad e’en,Bad harvest is foretold.
If dry be the buck’s hornOn Holyroad morn,’Tis worth a vest of gold;But if wet it be seenEre Holyroad e’en,Bad harvest is foretold.
If dry be the buck’s horn
On Holyroad morn,
’Tis worth a vest of gold;
But if wet it be seen
Ere Holyroad e’en,
Bad harvest is foretold.
Bull.
If the bull leads the van in going to pasture, rain must be expected; but if he is careless and allows the cows to precede him, the weather will be uncertain.
Cats.
When cats sneeze it is a sign of rain.
The cardinal point to which a cat turns and washes her face after a rain shows the direction from which the wind will blow.
If the cat is basking in the sun of February, it must go again to the stove in March. (German.)
When cats are snoring foul weather follows.
When cats are washing themselves fair weather follows.
Cats with their tails up and hair apparently electrified indicate approaching wind.
It is a sign of rain if the cat washes her head behind her ear. (Old lady on Cape Cod.)
Cats clean table-legs, tree-trunks, &c., before storms.
When a cat scratches itself, or scratches on a log or tree, it indicates approaching rain.
If sparks are seen when stroking a cat’s back, expect a change of weather soon.
When a cat washes her face with her back to the fire expect a thaw in winter.
When cats lie on their head with mouth turned up expect a storm.
Cats purr and wash; dogs eat grass; sheep eagerly eat and turn in the direction of the wind-point; oxen sniff the air, and swine are restless before rain.
Cats have the reputation of being weather-wise, an old notion which has given rise to a most extensive folk-lore. It is almost universally believed that good weather may be expected when the cat washes herself, but bad when she licks her coat against the grain, or washes her face over her ears, or sits with her tail to the fire. As, too, the cat is supposed not only to have a knowledge of the state of the weather, but a certain share in the arrangement of it, it is considered by sailors to be most unwise to provoke a cat. Hence they do not much like to see a cat on board at all, and when one happens to be more frisky than usual they have a popular saying that the cat has a gale of wind in her tail. A charm often resorted to for raising a storm is to throw a cat overboard; but, according to an Hungarian proverb, as a cat does not die in water its paws disturb the surface; hence the flaws on the surface of the water are named by sailors “cat’s-paws.” In the same way also a large flurry on the water is a “cat’s-skin;” and in some parts of England a popular name for the stormy northwest wind is the “cat’s-nose.”
Chipmunk.
In cold and early winters the chipmunk is very abundant on the south shore of Lake Superior, and are always housed for the winter in October. In short and mild winters they are seen until the 1st of December.
Cattle.
When a storm threatens, if cattle go under trees, it will be a shower; if they continue to feed, it will probably be a continuous rain. (New England.)
When cows fail their milk, expect stormy and cold weather.
When cows bellow in the evening, expect snow that night.
In Texas, when cattle hasten to timber, expect a “norther.”
When a cow stops and shakes her foot, it indicates that there is bad weather behind her.
When cows refuse to go to pasture in the morning, it will rain before night.
When cattle collect near the barn long before night and remain near the barn till late in the morning, expect a severe winter.
Expect rain when cattle low and gaze at the sky.
Cattle are also said to foreshow rain when they lick their forefeet, or lie on the right side, or scratch themselves more than they usually do against posts or other objects.
When cattle go out to pasture and lie down early in the day, it indicates early rain.
Deer.
When deer are in gray coat in October, expect a severe winter.
Dogs.
Dogs digging or making deep holes in the ground are said to indicate rain thereby.
If a dog howls when some one leaves the house it indicates rain.
When a dog or cat eats grass in the morning it will certainly rain before night.
When dogs eat grass rain follows.
Dogs refusing meat is an indication of rain.
Donkey.
When the donkey blows his horn’Tis time to house your hay and corn.
When the donkey blows his horn’Tis time to house your hay and corn.
When the donkey blows his horn’Tis time to house your hay and corn.
When the donkey blows his horn
’Tis time to house your hay and corn.
Domestic Animals.
Domestic animals stand with their heads from the coming storm.
Flying squirrels.
When the flying squirrels sing in midwinter, it indicates an early spring.
Foxes.
Foxes barking at night indicates storm.
Ground-squirrel.
When the ground-squirrel is seen in winter, it is a sign that snow is about over.
Ground-hog.
If on Candlemas day (2d February) it is bright and clear, the ground-hog will stay in its den, thus indicating that more snow and cold are to come; but if it snows or rain he will creep out, as the winter has ended. (German.)
Goat.
The goat will utter her peculiar cry before rain.
Hares.
Hares take to the open country before a snow-storm.
Hogs.
Hogs pick and store straws, leaves, &c., before cold weather.
Hogs rubbing themselves in winter indicates an approaching thaw.
Horse-hair.
If the hair of a horse grows long early, expect an early winter.
The hair of a horse appears rough just before rain.
Horses and cattle.
When horses and cattle stretch out their necks and sniff the air it will rain.
Horses, as well as some other domestic animals, foretell the coming of rain, by starting more than ordinary, and appearing in other respect restless and uneasy on the road.
Horses and mules very lively without apparent cause indicate cold.
When horses assemble in the corner of a field, with heads to leeward, expect rain.
Kine, when they assemble at one end of a field with their tails to windward, often indicate rain or wind. During the dead calm before a storm we may often see them extending their nostrils, with the head upwards, snuffing the air; this prognostic has been noticed of old by Virgil, and after him by Lord Bacon and others.
Mole.
If the mole dig his hole two feet and a half deep, expect a very severe winter; if two feet deep, not so severe; if one foot deep, a mild winter.
When the moles throw up the earth, rain follows soon.
Musk-rat.
The musk-rats build their houses twenty inches higher and very much warmer in early and long winters than in short ones.
Noise.
Animals making unusual noise indicates change of weather.
Oxen and Sheep.
When oxen or sheep collect together as if they were seeking shelter, a storm may be expected. (Apache Indians.)
Pigs.
Pigs uneasy, grunting, and huddling together, indicate cold.
When pigs busy themselves gathering leaves and straw to make a bed (in fall), expect a cold winter.
When in winter pigs rub against the side of their pen, it is a sure sign of a thaw.
If the forward end of a pig’s melt is thicker than the other end, the first part of winter will be the colder. If the latter end is thicker, the last part of winter will be the colder.
When pigs go about with sticks in their mouths, expect a “norther” in Texas.
Prairie Dogs.
Prairie dogs bank up their holes with grass and dirt before a storm; if they are playful, it is a sign of fair weather.
Partridges.
Partridges drum only in fall when a mild and open winter follows.
Rabbits.
In cold, long winters rabbits are fat in October and November; in mild and pleasant winters they are poor in those months.
Rabbits seek the woods before a severe storm.
Rats and Mice.
Much noise made by rats and mice indicates rain.
Swine.
If swine be restless and grunt loudly, if they squeal and jerk up their ears, there will be much wind. Whence the proverb, “Pigs can see the wind.”
Swine make lairs on south side of shelter before cold weather.
Squirrels, etc.
When squirrels and small animals lay away a larger supply of food than usual, it indicates that a long and severe winter will follow.
When squirrels lay in a winter supply of nuts, expect a cold winter.
When he eats them on the tree,Weather as warm as warm can be.
When he eats them on the tree,Weather as warm as warm can be.
When he eats them on the tree,Weather as warm as warm can be.
When he eats them on the tree,
Weather as warm as warm can be.
When squirrels are scarce in the autumn, it indicates a cold winter.
Sheep.
If sheep ascend hills and scatter, expect clear weather.
Sheep bleat and seek shelter before snow.
You may shear your sheepWhen the elder blossoms peep.
You may shear your sheepWhen the elder blossoms peep.
You may shear your sheepWhen the elder blossoms peep.
You may shear your sheep
When the elder blossoms peep.
Sand Mole.
The sand mole makes a mournful noise just before frost.
Spaniels.
When the spaniel sleeps it indicates rain.
Wolves.
Wolves always howl more before a storm; deer and elk come down from the mountains at least two days before a storm.
If the wolves howl and foxes bark during the winter, expect cold weather.
If wolves howl in the evening, expect a “norther.” (Texas.)
Mammals as Weather Prophets.
Dr. C. C. Abbott showed that the autumnal habits of certain animals that are popularly supposed to be indicative of the character of the coming winter could not be depended upon, although by the majority of people living in the country they were considered as sure indications of what the winter would prove to be. Dr. Abbott had kept a careful record, extending over twenty years, regarding the building of winter houses by musk-rats, the storing of nuts by squirrels, and other habits of these mammals, and had found that the habits referred to, or their omission in certain autumns, bore no relation to the character of the coming winter. (Trenton Nat. Hist. Soc., meeting February 13, 1883.)
Birds of Passage.
When birds of passage arrive early in their southern passage, severe weather may be looked for soon.
When birds cease to sing, rain and thunder will probably occur.
If birds in general pick their feathers, wash themselves, and fly to their nests, expect rain.
A dry summer will follow when birds build their nests in exposed places.
Birds flying in groups during rain or wind indicate hail.
Birds and fowl oiling feathers indicate rain.
Birds singing during rain indicate fair weather.
If birds in the autumn grow tame,The winter will be too cold for game.
If birds in the autumn grow tame,The winter will be too cold for game.
If birds in the autumn grow tame,The winter will be too cold for game.
If birds in the autumn grow tame,
The winter will be too cold for game.
Bats.
Bats flying late in the evening indicate fair weather.
Bats who speak flying tell of rain to-morrow.
If bats flutter and beetles fly about, there will be a fine morrow.
Blackbirds.
Blackbirds’ notes are very shrill in advance of rain.
Blackbirds flying south in autumn indicate an approaching cold winter.
Blackbirds bring healthy weather.
Blackbirds flocking in the fall indicate a spell of cold weather.
Buzzards.
A solitary turkey-buzzard at a great altitude indicates rain.
Buzzards flying high indicate fair weather.
Bluebirds.
When bluebirds twitter and sing, they call to each other of rain.
Chickens.
Chickens, when they pick up small stones and pebbles and are more noisy than usual, afford, according to Aratus, a sign of rain. Other authors prognosticate the coming of rain from the habit fowls have of rubbing in the dust and clapping their wings.
When chickens crow before sundown, it is a sign of rain next day.
Chickens are said to be very noisy just before rain and cocks to crow at unusual hours.
If chickens go out in the rain, it will rain all day.
When chickens come down from roost at night, rain will soon follow.
During rain if chickens pay no attention to it, you may expect a continued rain; if they run to shelter, it won’t last long.
When chickens light on fences during rain to plume themselves, it will soon clear.
Chimney Swallows.
When chimney swallows circle and call, they speak of rain. (Zuñi Indians.)
Cocks.
Cocks are said to clap their wings in an unusual manner before rain, and hens to rub in the dust and seem very uneasy.
If the cock moult before the hen,We shall have weather thick and thin;But if the hen moult before the cock,We shall have weather hard as a block.
If the cock moult before the hen,We shall have weather thick and thin;But if the hen moult before the cock,We shall have weather hard as a block.
If the cock moult before the hen,We shall have weather thick and thin;But if the hen moult before the cock,We shall have weather hard as a block.
If the cock moult before the hen,
We shall have weather thick and thin;
But if the hen moult before the cock,
We shall have weather hard as a block.
If the cock crows more than usual or earlier, expect rain.
Cormorants.
When cormorants fly from the sea and sea fowls seek their prey in pools or ponds, expect wind.
Cranes.
If cranes appear early in the autumn, expect a severe winter.
There will be no rain the day the crane flies down the creek.
When cranes make a great noise or scream, expect rain.
Cranes follow the last frost.
If cranes come early in autumn, expect a severe winter.
If cranes place their bills under their wings, expect rain.
When the cranes early (in October) fly southward, it indicates a cold winter.
Crows.
One crow flying alone is a sign of foul weather; but if crows fly in pairs, expect fine weather.
If crows fly south, a severe winter may be expected; if they fly north, the reverse.
If the crows make much noise and fly round and round, expect rain.
Cuckoo.
If the cuckoo is heard long after St. John’s day, it means harsh times. (German.)